Light louver and fastener therefor

ABSTRACT

A louver structure comprised of a plurality of interconnected louver modules and providing an appearance of uninterrupted continuity throughout the entire extent thereof. Each louver module is rectangular and comprises a reticulated network of spaced transversely extending and longitudinally extending slats intersecting each other and defining spaces therebetween. The modules are identical and have perimetric edges adapted to overlie one another when a pair of modules are inverted relative to each other and are brought into contiguous juxtaposition along such edges. The corner portions of the modules are relieved to enable the various slats in any assembled plurality of modules to align with each other and thereby provide such appearance of uninterrupted continuity. Any pair of adjacent modules are interconnected along the contiguous overlying perimetric edges thereof by an integrally formed flexible fastener having an opening dimensioned to snugly receive such perimetric edges therein, and being provided with a discontinuity along one side enabling such perimetric edges to be inserted into the opening whereupon the fastener can be flexed to snap the same over such module edges to clamp the same together.

i United States Patent [54] LIGHT LOUVER AND FASTENER THEREFOR 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 24/81 B, 52/581 [51] Int. Cl A44b 21/00, E04c 1/30 [50] Field of Search 52/581;

24/73.8 SM, 73.8 P, 81 PB, 73.86, 81 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,986,172 1/1935 Wilson 52/58.1 X 2,769,219 11/1956 Elkavich.. 24/81 B 2,770,336 11/1956 Vevirit et a1. 52/581 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney-Gardner & Zimmerman ABSTRACT: A louver structure comprised of a plurality of interconnected louver modules and providing an appearance of uninterrupted continuity throughout the entire extent thereof. Each louver module is rectangular and comprises a reticulated network of spaced transversely extending and longitudinally extending slats intersecting each other and defining spaces therebetween. The modules are identical and have perimetric edges adapted to overlie one another when a pair of modules are inverted relative to each other and are brought into contiguous juxtaposition along such edges. The corner portions of the modules are relieved to enable the various slats in any assembled plurality of modules to align with each other and thereby provide such appearance of uninterrupted continuity. Any pair of adjacent modules are interconnected along the contiguous overlying perimetric edges thereof by an integrally formed flexible fastener having an opening dimensioned to snugly receive such perimetric edges therein, and being provided with a discontinuity along one side enabling such perimetric edges to be inserted into the opening whereupon the fastener can be flexed to snap the same over such module edges to clamp the same together.

PATENTEUSEP 7:97:

(PRIOAkART) INVENTOR- FRoberi' Qfilchwarrz LIGHT LOUVER AND FASTENER THEREFOR This application is a division of application Ser. No.

776,125 filed Nov. 15, I968 and now US. Pat. No. 3,546,844, issued Dec. 15, 1970. This invention relates. to a louver structure and, more particularly, both to louver modules from which a louver structure can be assembled and to. fasteners for interconnecting such assembled modules. The invention is especially useful with fluorescent lights along a room ceiling to provide a louver or light-diffuser structure underlying the same.

Light louvers of the general type providing an environmental setting for the present invention are well known and are used extensively as light diffusers for fluorescent lights disposed along the ceiling of a room space. Since rooms vary in size, it is common to assemble a louver structure from a plurality of modules adapted to. be interconnected one with another. However, in the past such modules have been properly connectable along one direction only, thereby limiting the versatility and general usefulness of the modules and causing any louver structure that might be assembled therefrom other than along such. one direction, to have offset slats specifically identifying interruptions or discontinuities in the louver structure. Also, the prior arrangements for interconnecting adjacent louver modules have been cumbersome and generally unsatisfactory, and their presence has been quite apparent to one observing the assembled lou-verstructurefromtherebelow. 7

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an; improvedv louver structure which can be assembled to the dimensional; extent necessary in bothtransverse and longitudinal directions from a plurality of interconnectable louver modules of substantially identical construction. Another objectof' the invention is. that of providing louver modules of the improved character de'scribedwhich can be assembled' one with another in both transverse and longitudinal directions in a manner such that an appearance of uninterrupted continuity isachieved' along an entire louver structure assembled therefrom. Still another objectof the invention is in the provision of an improved fastener for use in interconnecting adjacent louver modules along the contiguous edge portions thereof. A further object of the invention is toprovide an improved fastener asdescribed which is unobtrusive and substantially unseen when employed to join adjacent louver modules, and. which iseasy to use,,relatively inexpensive, and snugly holds any two adjacent modules interconnected thereby. I

. Additional objects and. advantages of the invention, especially as. concerns particular. features and characteristics thereof, willbecome apparent as the specificationrdevelops.

Embodiments of the invention are illustratedinthe accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan-view of a light louver module embodying the invention;.

FIG. 2 is a broken end view in elevation of the module shown ,inFIG. 1 with:a second identicalmodule positioned for assembly therewith;

FIG. 3. is a. broken top plan view'showing a corner portion of a;plurality. of conventionallouvers to illustrate the relative offset thereof when assembled. in both' transverse and longitudinal directionsalonga corner thereof; 7

FIG. 4 is a brokentopplan view, similar. to that of FIG. 3, but showingaplurality of assembled modules embodying the present invention, and. further illustrating: a plurality of fasteners interconnecting adjacent modules;

FIG. 5 is a broken longitudinalsectional'view taken along the -line-55 of FIG. 4.and illustrating in broken lines atypical hanger. used to supportanassembledlouver structure; and

F IG; 6 is a perspective view of one of the fasteners shown in FIGS. 4 and5.

The light louver module illustrated in FIG. 1 is generally denoted with the numeral), anditcomprises a first group of slats 11'. arranged in equally spaced, longitudinally extending;

parallelism. The module 10 further comprises a second group of slats 12 arranged in equally spaced, longitudinally extending parallelism, and such group of slats 12 are disposed with respect to the first group of slats 11 so as to intersect the same and define a reticular network therewith comprising a plurality of polygonal openings 13. In the form shown, the module 10 is generally rectangular, and is more specifically squareshaped, as are the openings 13 defined by the intersecting slats 11 and 12 which are normally disposed with respect to each other. The slats 11 and 12 are interconnected along their respective intersections, and it may be observed that the particular module 10 illustrated is integrally formed throughout wherefore the slats 11 and 12 are integral at their points of intersection. In this reference, the entire module 10 may be molded from any one of a number of synthetic plastics such as polystyrene.

At least one slat in each of the two groups thereof defines an outer perimetric edge of the module 10, and such two edgedefining slats intersect each other to form a comer of the module. As shown in FIG. 1, two such edge-defining slats are respectively denoted with the numerals 14 and 15, and they intersect along a comer portion generally denoted 16. As shown best in FIG. 2, the edge-defining slats 14 and 15 are reduced in height along the same sides thereof and have heights approximately one-half that of the other slats l1 and 12. This dimensional characteristic of the edges 14 and I5 is used when a plurality of modules are assembled, at which time adjacent modules are inverted with respect to each other as depicted by the modules 10' and 10a in FIG. 2, to enable any two such contiguous edges to be superposed in overlying juxtaposition, as illustratedin FIG. 5.

The comer defined by the intersecting edges 14 and 15 is relieved (as shown at 17) at the intersection thereof along a line defining generally congruent angles with the edges 14 and 1-5. The extent of the relief approximates about one-half the thickness of the slats l4 and 15; and in the instance of the rectangular module 10, the line along which the corner is relieved forms angles approximating 45 with the slats 14 and 15.

The cooperative relationship established by the reducedheight slats l4 and 15 and-corner relief 17 enables a plurality of substantially identical modules to be assembled in con tiguous juxtaposition along the slats l4 and 15 thereof, as shown in FIG. 4 in which four such modules are so assembled. For purposesof identification, the modules illustrated in FIG. 4 are respectively denoted with the numerals 10, 10a, 10b'and 10c and they are structurally identical although certain of the modules are inverted to enable the contiguous edges thereof to be overlapped in edge-to-edge juxtaposition as seen in FIG. 5. In this respect, the modules 10 and 10b have the same orientation and, correspondingly, the modules 10a and 100 have the same orientation but are inverted relative to the modules 10 and 10b.

It will be observed that in such assembled condition the I corner portions 16 of the various modules meet along the lines FIG. 4), as are the slats 12 thereof. Such an aligned disposition ofa plurality of modules cannot be effected in the absence of the described arrangement of parts, and in the past, modular light louvers when brought together in this manner are offset in both transverse and longitudinal directions, as shown in FIG. 3.

1 Thus, as depicted in FIG. 3, the four prior art modules respectively denoted 18, 18a, 18b and are offset in bothtransverse and longitudinal directions by the thicknesses of the edge slats 19 and 20 thereof. It is quite evident, therefore, that the resultant louver structure is discontinuous or interrupted therealong, in sharp contrast to the assemblage shown in FIG. 4 in which a plurality of identical panels embodying the present invention provide an uninterrupted appearance of continuity.

Each pair of adjacent modules is adapted to be interconnected along the contiguous overlying edges thereof by one or more fasteners. Thus, in FIG. 4 there are four such fasteners 20 respectively interconnecting the adjacent panels -10a, 10a-10b, 10b-10c, and 10c-10. The fasteners are all identical and, as shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6, each fastener is in the form of a flexible strap having spaced sidewalls 21 and 22 and spaced end walls 23 and 24 which together define a generally rectangular opening 25 dimensioned to snugly receive a pair of overlying perimetric edges therein, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The sidewall 22 is discontinuous therealong (as indicated generally at 26) to enable overlying perimetric edges to be inserted into the opening 25 and be moved downwardly therethrough into substantial abutment with the bottom end wall 23. Upon this occurrence, the upper end portion of the fastener can be flexed laterally outwardly along the wall 21 thereof to permit the end wall 24 and depending portion attached thereto of the sidewall 22 to be forced over the contiguous perimetric edges of the louver modules to clamp the same together.

In order to facilitate such flexing of the fastener 20, it is equipped with an outwardly projecting lip 27 generally adjacent the end wall 24 thereof, and for the purpose of stiffening or reinforcing the fastener in a transverse sense it is equipped with a plurality of ribs or ridges 28 located at the respective mergences of the side and end walls of the strap and at spaced intervals along the sidewalls thereof and generally adjacent the discontinuity 26. Such discontinuity, it will be observed, is closer to the end wall 24 than to the end wall 23 but is spaced from each.

The end wall 24 of the fastener is elongated transversely and is dimensioned so as to pass through the openings 13 in a module but to terminate generally adjacent successive slats thereof so as to constrain the fastener against displacements relative to the modules along the interconnected perimetric edges thereof. Each fastener 20 is integrally formed and is therefore constituted of a flexible material which can take a variety of forms as, for example, one of the synthetic plastics such as polyethylene.

In use of the fastener to interconnect a pair of contiguous modules after the adjacent edges thereof are disposed in overlying juxtaposition, as shown in FIG. 5, the fastener 20 is positioned with the elongated end 24 thereof in alignment with an opening 13 and is passed therethrough in a direction causing the overlying edge portions of such modules to pass through the discontinuity 26 and enter the opening 25 in the fastener. After the perimetric edge portions have been brought into abutment with the bottom end wall 23 of the fastener, the upper end portion thereof is flexed laterally by displacing the lip 27 upwardly until the upper end portion of the fastener snaps over the perimetric edges of the module, whereupon the two adjacent modules are clamped together by the fastener, as shown in FIG. 5. This process is repeated for each of the fasteners used, and a sufficient number are employed to effectively unite the various modules along the lengths thereof. It will be appreciated that the described manner in mounting a fastener 20 is exemplary and other techniques might be used.

After a plurality of modules have been so assembled to define a louver structure, it may be mounted beneath ceiling lights (usually fluorescent tubes) in any conventional manner as by supporting the same with a plurality of hangers 29 which may be standard items and in the form shown, have depending hook-shaped legs 30 and 31 adapted to seat a pair of adjacent slats therein and extend upwardly through an opening 13 defined therebetween. The legs at their upper ends have a nut structure 32 formed therealong that threadedly receives an eyebolt 33 adapted to be connected at its upper end to a nail or screw or bracket of some appropriate type secured to such ceiling. It will be observed that the elongated end 24 of the fastener is located along the top or upwardly facing surface of the assembled modules so that the narrow end 23 of the fastener faces downwardly, thereby making each fastener unobtrusive and rather unapparent when viewed from below.

Each module 10 may be formed with edge-defining slats 14 and 15 along the opposite edges thereof which at their intersection, and at the respective intersections thereof with the edge-defining slats 14 and 15, form corner portions that are relieved, all as described hereinbefore with respect to the corner 16, so that as many louver modules as necessary may be interconnected in both transverse and longitudinal directions to provide a louver-equipped ceiling of any desired size having an appearance of uninterrupted continuity throughout the entire extent thereof. Such louver structure is supported at spaced-apart intervals by as many hangers 29 as are required, and adjacent modules are interconnected by fasteners 20.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. By way of example, the arrangement of the slats and the openings defined thereby are shown as square, but it is apparent that other designs or configurations can be similarly employed.

Iclaim:

l. A fastener for interconnecting a pair of reticulated light louver modules along outer perimetric edges thereof disposed in edge-to-edge overlying relation, comprising a flexible strap having spaced side and end walls defining a generally rectangular opening dimensioned to snugly receive such overlying perimetric edges therein, said strap being discontinuous along one sidewall thereof to enable such overlying perimetric edges to be inserted into said opening and into substantial abutment with one of said end walls thereof whereupon said strap can be flexed along the other of said sidewalls to force the other of said end walls over such overlying edges to clamp said fastener thereto, at least one of said straps being elongated transversely along a portion of its length so as to approximate the width of an opening in such reticulated louver module to prevent transverse shifting of one module relative to the other module.

2. The fastener of claim 1 and further comprising a lip projecting outwardly from said discontinuous sidewall adjacent the aforesaid other end wall to facilitate manual flexing of said strap.

3. The fastener of claim 1 in which both of said sidewalls have transversely elongated portions.

4. The fastener of claim 3 in which said transversely elongated sidewall portions are disposed adjacent one of said end walls, said latter end wall also being elongated transversely substantially coterminous with said sidewall portions.

5. The fastener of claim 4 in which said discontinuity of one of said sidewalls extends from the transversely elongated portion thereof towards the narrower of said end walls. 

1. A fastener for interconnecting a pair of reticulated light louver modules along outer perimetric edges thereof dIsposed in edge-to-edge overlying relation, comprising a flexible strap having spaced side and end walls defining a generally rectangular opening dimensioned to snugly receive such overlying perimetric edges therein, said strap being discontinuous along one sidewall thereof to enable such overlying perimetric edges to be inserted into said opening and into substantial abutment with one of said end walls thereof whereupon said strap can be flexed along the other of said sidewalls to force the other of said end walls over such overlying edges to clamp said fastener thereto, at least one of said straps being elongated transversely along a portion of its length so as to approximate the width of an opening in such reticulated louver module to prevent transverse shifting of one module relative to the other module.
 2. The fastener of claim 1 and further comprising a lip projecting outwardly from said discontinuous sidewall adjacent the aforesaid other end wall to facilitate manual flexing of said strap.
 3. The fastener of claim 1 in which both of said sidewalls have transversely elongated portions.
 4. The fastener of claim 3 in which said transversely elongated sidewall portions are disposed adjacent one of said end walls, said latter end wall also being elongated transversely substantially coterminous with said sidewall portions.
 5. The fastener of claim 4 in which said discontinuity of one of said sidewalls extends from the transversely elongated portion thereof towards the narrower of said end walls. 